Williams, John R.

May 4, 1782

Detroit, Michigan

John R Street in metro Detroit named in his honor
1801 and 1802 -- Commissary Department US Army at Pittsburgh
War of 1812 -- Capt of Artillery, Colonel of the Militia
1818 -- Pres. Bank of Michigan
Sept 6, 1824, Apr 5, 1825, 1830, 1844, 1845, 1846 -- Mayor of Detroit (defeated by Zachariah Chandler in 1851).
Pres, Board of Education (3 yrs)
1832 -- commander of Michigan troops during Black Hawk War
1838 -- promoted to Major General of the Militia
1818 -- Associate Justice of the County Court
Official Auctioneer, County Commissioner, Trustee of the University of Michigan, Member of the Board of Education, Trustee of the City of Detroit, delegate to the State Constitutional Convention of 1835

War of 1812 -- Williams was taken prisoner by the British at Hull's surrender of Detroit.

He was paroled by the British and moved to Albany, NY, until the war ended.

Arp 1831 -- Williams and his uncle purchased the Oakland County Chronicle after the Gazette newspaper office burned. Everything was moved to Detroit. The Democratic Free Press and Michigan Intelligence was first published, now known as the Detroit Free Press.

Associate Justice County Court, 1815.
1817 - Served with the Fire Dept.
City Trustee -1818.
Adjutant General, 1818-1829.
One of Three county Commissions, 1818-1819.
Trustee University of Michigan, 1821-1822.
Founder of the Detroit Free Press.
First Mayor of Detroit

Thomas Williams

Cecile Campau

His cousin Mary Mott (married 1804)

Elizabeth, Mary, Theo, Cecilia John C, J.C. Devereaux, Gershom, Thomas, Ferdinand, G. Mott
Elizabeth's husband: Colonel John Winder

Sisters Catherine and Elizabeth
Cecile remarried Jacques Lozon
Maternal uncle: Joseph Campau
Imprisoned from a duel with Jacques Lasselle

American